Nokea
You are the nurse caring for patients in the urology clinic. A new patient, 78 years old, presents with complaints of urinary incontinence. An anticholinergic is prescribed. Why might this type of medication be an inappropriate choice in the elderly population?
- A. Gastrointestinal hypermotility can be an adverse effect of this medication.
- B. Detrusor instability can be an adverse effect of this medication.
- C. Confusion can be an adverse effect of this medication.
- D. Increased symptoms of urge incontinence can be an adverse effect of this medication.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Although medications such as anticholinergics may decrease some of the symptoms of urge incontinence (detrusor instability), the adverse effects of these medications (dry mouth, slowed gastrointestinal motility, and confusion) may make them inappropriate choices for the elderly.
You may also like to solve these questions
An elderly patient, while being seen in an urgent care facility for a possible respiratory infection, asks the nurse if Medicare is going to cover the cost of the visit. What information can the nurse give the patient to help allay her concerns?
- A. Medicare has a copayment for many of the services it covers. This requires the patient to pay a part of the bill.
- B. Medicare pays for 100% of the cost for acute-care services, so the cost of the visit will be covered.
- C. Medicare will only pay the cost for acute-care services if the patient has a very low income.
- D. Medicare will not pay for the cost of acute-care services so the patient will be billed for the services provided.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The two major programs that finance health in the United States are Medicare and Medicaid, both of which are overseen by the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS). Both programs cover acute-care needs such as inpatient hospitalization, physician care, outpatient care, home health services, and skilled nursing care in a nursing. Medicare is a plan specifically for the elderly population, and Medicaid is a program that provides services based on income.
You are the nurse caring for an elderly patient with cardiovascular disease. The patient comes to the clinic with a suspected respiratory infection and is diagnosed with pneumonia. As the nurse, what do you know about the altered responses of older adults?
- A. Treatments for older adults need to be more holistic than treatments used in the younger population.
- B. The altered responses of older adults reinforce the need for the nurse to monitor all body systems to identify possible systemic complications.
- C. The altered responses of older adults define the nursing interactions with the patient.
- D. Older adults become hypersensitive to antibiotic treatments for infectious disease states.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Older people may be unable to respond effectively to an acute illness, or, if a chronic health condition is present, they may be unable to sustain appropriate responses over a long period. Furthermore, their ability to respond to definitive treatment is impaired. The altered responses of older adults reinforce the need for nurses to monitor all body system functions closely, being alert to signs of impending systemic complication. Holism should be integrated into all patients care. Altered responses in the older adult do not define the interactions between the nurse and the patient. Older adults do not become hypersensitive to antibiotic treatments for infectious disease states.
A gerontologic nurse is overseeing the care that is provided in a large, long-term care facility. The nurse is educating staff about the significant threat posed by influenza in older, frail adults. What action should the nurse prioritize to reduce the incidence and prevalence of influenza in the facility?
- A. Teach staff how to administer prophylactic antiviral medications effectively.
- B. Ensure that residents receive a high-calorie, high-protein diet during the winter.
- C. Make arrangements for residents to limit social interaction during winter months.
- D. Ensure that residents receive influenza vaccinations in the fall of each year.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The influenza and the pneumococcal vaccinations lower the risks of hospitalization and death in elderly people. The influenza vaccine, which is prepared yearly to adjust for the specific immunologic characteristics of the influenza viruses at that time, should be administered annually in autumn. Prophylactic antiviral medications are not used. Limiting social interaction is not required in most instances. Nutrition enhances immune response, but this is not specific to influenza prevention.
An 84-year-old patient has returned from the post-anesthetic care unit (PACU) following hip arthroplasty. The patient is oriented to name only. The patients family is very upset because, before having surgery, the patient had no cognitive deficits. The patient is subsequently diagnosed with postoperative delirium. What should the nurse explain to the patients family?
- A. This problem is self-limiting and there is nothing to worry about.
- B. Delirium involves a progressive decline in memory loss and overall cognitive function.
- C. Delirium of this type is treatable and her cognition will return to previous levels.
- D. This problem can be resolved by administering antidotes to the anesthetic that was used in surgery.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Surgery is a common cause of delirium in older adults. Delirium differs from other types of dementia in that delirium begins with confusion and progresses to disorientation. It has symptoms that are reversible with treatment, and, with treatment, is short term in nature. It is patronizing and inaccurate to reassure the family that there is nothing to worry about. The problem is not treated by the administration of antidotes to anesthetic.
Falls, which are a major health problem in the elderly population, occur from multifactorial causes. When implementing a comprehensive plan to reduce the incidence of falls on a geriatric unit, what risk factors should nurses identify? Select all that apply.
- A. Medication effects
- B. Overdependence on assistive devices
- C. Poor lighting
- D. Sensory impairment
- E. Ineffective use of coping strategies
Correct Answer: A,C,D
Rationale: Causes of falls are multifactorial. Both extrinsic factors, such as changes in the environment or poor lighting, and intrinsic factors, such as physical illness, neurologic changes, or sensory impairment, play a role. Mobility difficulties, medication effects, foot problems or unsafe footwear, postural hypotension, visual problems, and tripping hazards are common, treatable causes. Overdependence on assistive devices and ineffective use of coping strategies have not been shown to be factors in the rate of falls in the elderly population.